Principal Investigator, MD/DO

Headlands Research; Scottsdale (AZ); On-site; USD 152,000 - 207,000; Part time

Job summary

Headlands Research in Scottsdale, Arizona seeks a Principal Investigator (MD/DO) to provide medical leadership and oversight for clinical trials. This physician will ensure participant safety, regulatory compliance, and high-quality study execution while collaborating with an experienced team across multiple sites.

Prior clinical research experience is preferred but not required. Flexible part-time schedule (2–3 days/week) with potential for additional hours, and a strong commitment to ethical

Qualifications

• MD or DO degree from an accredited institution.
• Active, unrestricted medical license in Arizona or eligibility to obtain one.
• Board-certified or board-eligible in a recognized medical specialty.

Responsibilities

• Provide medical leadership and oversight for clinical trials in scope of approved protocols and GCP.
• Ensure participant safety and regulatory compliance, high-quality study execution.
• Evaluate eligibility, review medical histories, and assess clinical findings.
• Oversee informed consent process and patient understanding of procedures and rights.
• Report adverse events per protocols and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with site personnel to ensure compliant study execution.
• Delegate study responsibilities to qualified staff and provide supervision.
• Maintain complete, accurate, timely clinical research documentation.
• Participate in sponsor/investigator meetings and regulatory visits.

Skills

Clinical judgment

Patient safety

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Education

MD or DO

Job description

At Headlands Research, we are dedicated to enhancing clinical trial delivery within our communities. As a leading network of advanced clinical trial sites, we leverage cutting-edge technology and exceptional support services to broaden outreach and participation. Founded in 2018, our rapidly growing company currently operates 20+ sites across the US and Canada, with plans for further expansion.

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Employment Type: Part-Time, ideally looking for 2-3 days per week, potentially open to more flexibility.

Join Us in Improving Lives Through Clinical Research

At Headlands Research, we're committed to advancing medical science and improving lives by bringing innovative clinical trials to communities across North America. Our growing network of clinical research sites combines experienced medical professionals, advanced technology, and dedicated support teams to accelerate the development of new treatments.

Founded in 2018, Headlands Research has expanded into a leading clinical research network with locations throughout the United States and Canada. We are passionate about expanding access to clinical trials, improving participant experiences, and ensuring that diverse populations are represented in medical research.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Principal Investigator (MD/DO) to join our clinical research team in Scottsdale, Arizona.

This is an exciting opportunity for a physician who is passionate about patient care, medical innovation, and advancing new treatments through clinical research.

As a Principal Investigator, you will provide medical leadership and oversight for clinical trials, ensuring participant safety, regulatory compliance, and high-quality study execution. You will collaborate with an experienced team of clinical research professionals and play an important role in bringing promising new therapies to market.

Prior clinical research experience is preferred but not required. We welcome physicians interested in transitioning into clinical research who bring strong clinical judgment, a commitment to patient safety, and a willingness to learn.

Why Join Headlands Research?

• Meaningful Impact: Contribute to the development of innovative treatments that have the potential to improve patients' lives.
• Collaborative Environment: Work alongside experienced clinical research coordinators, research assistants, physicians, advanced practice providers, and patient recruitment specialists.
• Dedicated Research Support: Benefit from an established clinical research infrastructure and operational support, allowing you to focus on medical oversight, participant safety, and study quality.
• Professional Growth: Expand your clinical research expertise while participating in studies across a variety of therapeutic areas.
• Commitment to Excellence: Join an organization that values professionalism, collaboration, diversity, and high-quality clinical research.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as Principal Investigator for assigned clinical trials, providing medical oversight and ensuring studies are conducted in accordance with approved protocols, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain responsibility for participant safety, medical decision-making, and the overall quality and integrity of clinical trial conduct.
• Evaluate potential study participants for eligibility, review medical histories, and assess clinical findings.
• Oversee the informed consent process, ensuring participants understand study procedures, potential risks, and their rights.
• Evaluate, document, and oversee the reporting of adverse events and serious adverse events in accordance with study protocols and regulatory requirements.
• Provide medical oversight for investigational products, including appropriate administration, monitoring, and assessment of treatment responses.
• Collaborate with clinical research coordinators, Sub-Investigators, and other site personnel to ensure efficient and compliant study execution.
• Ensure appropriate delegation of study responsibilities to qualified research personnel and provide ongoing supervision and training.
• Review and maintain accurate, complete, and timely clinical research documentation.
• Participate in sponsor meetings, investigator meetings, site initiation visits, monitoring visits, and regulatory inspections as needed.
• Work collaboratively with sponsors, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), and regulatory agencies.
• Support participant recruitment and retention efforts while maintaining the highest standards of ethical research conduct.
• Contribute to a professional, collaborative, and participant-focused research environment.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from an accredited institution.
• Active, unrestricted medical license in the state of Arizona, or eligibility to obtain an Arizona medical license prior to beginning clinical research responsibilities.
• Board-certified or board-eligible in a recognized medical specialty.
• Strong clinical judgment and commitment to patient safety and ethical medical practices.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary clinical research teams.
• Willingness to learn and follow clinical trial protocols, GCP guidelines, and applicable regulatory requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience serving as a Principal Investigator or Sub-Investigator in clinical research.
• Familiarity with FDA regulations, ICH-GCP guidelines, and clinical trial documentation requirements.
• Experience working with pharmaceutical sponsors, CROs, or clinical research organizations.
• Experience evaluating and managing patients in therapeutic areas relevant to the site's clinical trial portfolio.
• Demonstrated ability to provide medical leadership and collaborate effectively with clinical and operational teams.

Clinical research experience is a plus, but we encourage qualified physicians who are interested in entering the clinical research field to apply.

Make an Impact with Headlands Research

At Headlands Research, you'll have the opportunity to apply your medical expertise in a collaborative research environment while helping advance treatments that could benefit patients around the world.

Whether you're an experienced clinical investigator or a physician exploring a new direction in your medical career, we invite you to learn more about joining our team in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Headlands Research will never ask a candidate for personal identifiable information (date of birth, social security number, driver’s license information, etc) via email or messenger tools, or for a financial deposit of any kind.

Headlands Research is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Need Assistance?

Headlands Research is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact [e-mail] for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Headlands Research’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.